Indexing mechanism



June 15, 1943. E, TT N 2,443,278

INDEXING MECHANISM Filed March 24, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l Vg/V 727/51 vJune 15, 1948.

F. E. STRAT TON INDEXING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1943June 15, 1948. F.- E. STRATTON 2,443,278

mnEiune MEGHANI SM Filed March 24, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l I I I I June15, 1948. FQE. STRA TTON 2,443,273-

' INDEXING MECHANISM Filed March 24, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet i4 Fig. 7.-

Patented June 15, 1948 7 UNITED STATES OTFTFICE INDEXING MECHANISM FrankE. Stratton, Beverly, Mass, vassignor to United Shoe Machinery GornotflfionhFlemi ton, N. 3., a corporationof New-Jersey ApplicationMarch-24, 1943, Serial "No. 480,355 24 Claims. (011192 439) 5Thisinvention relates to indexing mechanisms and. particularly tomechanisms of this type which are fluid-pressure operated.

.A principal object of the invention is to provide improved means fordriving the member to be indexed so that the starting, accelerating,decelierating and stopping of the member, which conbeindexed whichis-adapted to start the member ,moving slowly and to accelerate itevenly, during rthefirst half of the'indexing cycle, and, during .thelasthalf of :the indexing cycle, to decelerate .the member gradually sothat it is brought substantially to zero velocity-attheend of theindexing cycle In this way the load on theindexing motor more evenlydistributed, over :the whole indexing cycle, and the shock on theindexing pin, .at'the end of :the cycle, substantially eliminated.Preferably, the motor is controlled by means including an-index pin thatrides on an ,indexcam driven by the'member to be indexed. This cam isprovided with a plurality of recesses, for receivingwthe index pin tohold the member in indexed .position,=and also'with a plurali'tyofintervening controLs-uria-ces .for moving the pin to operatethe-.controlmeans. For augmenting the effect of the variable speedvdrive in acceleratin and de- :celerating the member to be indexed, thesecontrol surfaces-are sotconstructed and arranged that the-motor runsat-a high "speed during'the timenthe member is being accelerated and ata slow speed during-:the'time the member is being decelerated.

"AEfurther object of the invention is to provide an improvedindexingmechanism in which the minimum time interval between successiveindexingcycles may be'predetermined. With this purpose in view, and inaccordance with a further feature of-the'inventlon, ,a-member-whichismovable to withdraw :the index'pinf-rom a recess of they indeircam, tostart the" motor and thereby initiateanrindexing cycle, is releasablyconnected to the pin and '-means associated with the pin are adapted torelease this connection after the motor has beenstarted. During the lastpart of the indexingcycle'a timing device is started, and this timing:device-issarranged to restore ,the' connection. between-the movablemember and the pin, thus;.conditioning.=the.: indexing-mechanism for thenext indexing cycle, .ina redetermined and variable time. Moreparticularly, a manually movable member is provided for withdrawing thepin and this member is connected tov the pin by means includinga-connecting member.v Means are provided for moving this connectingmember out of operative -position-,..when the motor starts,

and a latch holds it in this inoperativeposition until .tripped by. theplunger of a timing piston.

Fl'heindexing pin is formed integrally with a valve member which, whenthe pin is withdrawn from a recess to start an indexing cycle,.admitspressure .fluid to the timing cylinder for moving. the timing pistonincne direction. Later in the inidexingcycle, the valve member moves toa position font-trapping the-fluid in the timing cylinder and the piston:is returned 'by-a. spring at a rate determinedbythe setting of anadjustable needle valve.

Otheriobjects and features will appear in the following-detaileddescription of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in theaccompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is-a. diagrammatic showing of an apparatusembo'dying.thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of an indexving'cam'iorming'part of.the mechanism shown inJFig. l;

- Fig.8 is aside view, with certain parts in section, of a-control valvefor the indexing mechanism;

.xliligl l .is anend view ofv the control valve;

- Fig. 5 is a plan view of a variable speed gear- .ing, forming apart ofthe indexing mechanism, takencntherline:V-aV of Fig. 6, looking in thedirectionof'the arrows and 1 Fig.6 is a sectional view of thevariablespeed gearing.

Referring zto Fig.1, T designates the turret that isztoibe indexed andwhich,.of course, will be suitably'zmountedfor-rotation upon the base ofthe niachinewith which it is associated. The turret is rotatedzby meansof a rotary fluid-pressure motor M, which drives, through cyclicallyvariable speed-v gearing'G, a pinion P. that is in mesh with aringgearR, secured to the turret. Pressure fiuidwfor driving the .motor isobtained from a pumps}? which draws liquid, such as oil, from a sump S,conveniently located in the base of the machine, and delivers the-tfluidunder pressure to alinelii; Branching from the line H] is a line (I12which leads to one connection I4 of a combined controLvalve .andntimingmechanism, designated ill of the control valve C. For limiting thepressure in the system, a relief valve RV is connected in a branch line20 leading from the line I to the sump. A third connection 22, of, thecontrol valve C, is likewise'connected to the sump by means of a line24.

Also secured to the turret is an indexing cam I that is provided with aplurality of notches, or recesses, Elli into which a roller 32, carriedby an indexing pin 34, is adapted to project, see Fig. 2. As will beexplained below, this pin serves to hold the turret in indexed positionand also'is acted on by the cam to operate the control valve C duringthe indexing action. The control valve has an operating handle H bymeans of which the pin 3G is withdrawn from a notch 30 for the purposeof initiating an indexing cycle.

The control valve comprises a housing 40, Figs. 3 and 4, having anaxially alined series of bores 62, 44, of different diameters, in itsupper portion, with. which the. above-mentioned connectionsv M, 98 and22 communicate. The pin, 34 has spaced piston portions 36, Q8 and 50,which arefseparated by reduced parts 52 and 54, respectively, that areslidably received in the aforementioned bores. The connections is and I8open into grooves 50 and 58, formed in the larger bore 42, and thepiston portion :38 is provided with a radial opening 60 that isconnected to a groove 62, in the piston portion 59, by means of an axialduct es and radial bore 65. The piston portion I5 extends beyond thehousing and is slotted at E6 to receive the bifurcated upper end 68 ofan operating arm is that embraces a pin '52 carried by the pistonportion. This arm is pivoted on a cross-shaft M, mounted in ears F6 onthe housing, Fig. 4, and is urged to swing in a clockwise direction tohold the roller 32 against the cam I, by means of a tension spring 78. Aport 80 also opens into the bore 32 and to this port is connected a line82, leading back to the sump, in which there is located a needle valve84, Figs. 1 and l, the purpose of which will presently appear.

In Fig. 3 the roller 3?. is shown in engagement with the cam I in one ofthe notches 30, and the pin 34 in the position it occupies at thecompletion of an indexing cycle. The motor M will now be stalledinasmuch as pressure fluid is being admitted to both of its sides, tothe inlet side from line l0 and to the exhaust side from line I2,connection M, grooves 56, 58, connection I8, and line It. Because of thedifference in the areas of piston portions 46 and 48, the pin 34 isurged to the right by the action of fluid under pressure as Well as bythe spring 18. To start the motor, and thus initiate an indexing cycle,the pin 34 is moved to the left, by means of the handle H and mechanismabout to be described, until the roller 32 is withdrawn from the notch30 to a position opposite an inclined surface'llfi on the cam, Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 shows the location of the piston portions when the pin is in thisposition. Now communication between groove 56 and groove 58 is blockedby the piston portion 48 which, however, uncovers the groove 58 so as topermit a restricted flow from the exhaust connection I8 to the sumpconnection 22. Exhaust now being permitted, the motor M starts and,through gearing G, rotates the turret T, together with cam I, in thedirection of the arrow, Fig. 2. This movement of the cam 4 causes theinclined surface 86 to act upon roller 32 and to drive the pin furtherto the left until the roller reaches a cylindrical portion 88 on thecam. The piston portions are thus brought to the position shown in Fig.8 in which groove 58 is still blocked from groove 5% but is wide open toconnection 22 through the space around the reduced part 54: and themotor runs at full speed.

The connection I4 is now put into communication with a passage 00 whichleads to a timing cylinder 02 formed in the housing, Fig. 3. As theturret continues to turn the roller 32 engages a drop on the cam I, thuspermitting the spring is to move the pin 3% back to the right untilroller 32 engages a dwell 94 on the cam I. Fig. 9 shows the location ofthe piston portions when pin 34 is in this position. Groove 58' iswholly blocked by the piston portion it and passage so is likewise cutoff from the connection it. Now the radial duct 69 is over the groove b8and the groove 52 is in alinement with the port as. The motor M will nowexhaust to the sump through line'BZ andneedle valve'84 and will run at amuch reduced speed, determined by the setting of the valve 34,connection 18 being blocked from connection 22, as will be apparent, bypiston portion 48. This slow speed motor operation continues until theroller .32 drops into the next notch 30, at which time the pin returnsto the position shown in Fig. 3, and the motor, as well as the turretrotation, is stopped. From the above it will be seen that the operationof the motor, after it has been started, has three different periods:first, a short period of acceleration, pin 36 in position of Fig. '7,and roller 3-2 on inclined cam surface 83; second,'a period of uniformfull-speed running, pin in position of Fig. 8, and roller 32 on dwell88; and third, a period of uniform slow-speed running, pin 34 inposition of Fig. 9, and roller 32 on dwell 34. As will be explainedbelow, these three periods are coordinated with the cyclic speedvariation, obtained by the gearing G, in suchamanner that the starting,accelerating, decelerating and stopping of the turret is facilitated,and undue loading on the motor, during starting, as well as shock on theindexing pin, when stopping, is avoided. a I

The gearing G is of the novel type disclosed and claimed in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 2,309,595, granted January 26, 1943, on anapplication filed in the name of L. E, James, to which reference may behad for a more complete description and fuller explanation of the natureof this kind of mechanism; Referring to Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the gearing Gcomprises an open frame I08 in which there are fixed two bushings I 02,

Hi l. J ournaled in these two bushings is a vertical shaft E06, to theupper end of which the pinion P is keyed. Rotatably mounted on thesebushings, by meansof ball bearings I98, H0, is an assembly comprising abevel ring gear H2, a disc lid and a plate Ilfi, held together by bolts5 I8. The ring gear is in mesh with a bevel pinion l2!) carried by theshaft of the motor M. The disc H4 is separated by an opening to provideopposed guide surfaces I22, I24 for a rack member I26 whichis in meshwith a small pinion I28 that is keyed to the shaft I06. Ring gear H2 andplate H6 are each recessed at I30, I32, re spectively, and located inthese recesses are two eccentric straps I34, I36 which arerotat-able. oneccentric flanges I38, I40 formed integrally with the bushings I02, I04.These straps are each elongated on one side and are connected tothe.ogmegrze raclcmember 126, .ibysmean's of spin." I 42, atrthese points.I twhensthe ring gear, which constitutessthe in- .putiselement of the-.gearing, is rotated 2a single turn, the shaft I06, on which pinionPmvhich constitutes themutputelement of thegearing, is mounted, .will be.driven i and :will also make one complete :revolution. However, the;drive from the'rringsgear to the shaft is through the rack memherJ-ZB:which .is reciprocated byhthe .action o'fatheeecentric straps. .As aresult .of.=this,z:the angularrvelocity :of the shaft I (I6 variescyclically ;-from::zero to'amaximum, at "the half turn and then back :to:zero during each complete revolution. This .actionis iullyuexplained intherabovementioned:patent'andhence :need I not be further discussedhere.

There :are eight teethin the ring :gear R to .everyzitooth the pinion'P, anditherefore a singlexturnzioflthezpinion will rotate'the turret45?, an" amount equal to the angular distancebetweencache-succeedinganotch 3D,'Fig. 2. As will-be obvious, the number ofcamnotches and the (gear ratio iotpinionPiand ring-gearR may be variedto obtain any I desired; number of indexing cycles .per:turret'r-evolution. The drop, from dwell '88 to dwell 94, onthe turretcam occurs when the turretrhas rotatedabout one half of the distance .tothezncxt not-ch, 22 Fig. .2, Accordingly, during the first two-periodsof motor operation, indicatedabove the 1 speed of pinion P will begradually accelerated from zero .up to the same speed zaswringugear H2,and, during the :third period of :motor operation,'the speed of pinion Pwill bagradually decelerated, again; reaching zero just when theroller32 isin position toenter the next notch. The action of the.control'valve, to regulate the speed ofmotor M, Ian'dfthe action ofthe'gearing-G, to vary the speed of :.pinion:P relative to the speed ofring gear IIZ, work together,.-since.the-motorruns at a high speedwhentheqpinion is accelerating and at a low speed when the-pinion isdecelerating. As a result of this-combined action, the turret is startedvery slowly, greatly relieving the heavy load which would otherwise beplaced on the motor M; brought uptofullspeedzqui-ckly, as theaccelerating action of gearing G occurs and. with the motor =M=runningat full speed; gradually decelerated-bythe gearing, while the'motorMruns atax slow-speed, due-to the restricting of its exhaust byneedle'valve 84; and is finally brought toza-stopby pin. 34, ata timewhen its angular velocity-has. been reduced practically to zero bythe-continued .idecelerating eifect of the gearing G.

=1For swinging the arm 'I'Il to move the'pin 34 into the position shownin Fig.7, the handle H isiprovided with a pawl I40, Fig. 3. This pawlis' pi-voted'on axpin 142 carried bya web I44, which extends :from 'asocket portion, in which the handle'rfits, the'web having a hub portion,journaled on'the shaft M,and a downwardly extending. ear I46. A stopscrew I48 is threaded through this ear, and surrounding'this screw is acompression "spring I50 which bears against the lwer:part of'the housing40, This spring holds the handle in the position shown inFig. Band withasecond stop screw I52, threaded through a projection 454 .on the webI44,'bearing. against the housing. The pawl-has a'hook I56 for-engaging.a;pin-;-IB, carried by the arm l'lLand adjacent to this hook isprovided with'a camming surface I 61),. thegpurpose ofrwhich willpresently appear. The pawl is held in engagementewith the pin 1158 :by a1 tension uspringi-YISS; stretched betweenla pin I62, in the-pawl, anda'ipinsilfl carried by one end of a, latch I56 lthatiis pivoted totheweb I44. This latch has asurface IBB for engaging a surface 1 F69, onthe pawl, to hold-the pawlup so that shook I56 is above the pin I58.

Locatedwithin the timing cylinder is a piston I10 havingaplunger,or-piston rod, I14, that ex tends out through a guide'bushing' I12.This-piston is urged-tothe left, and against the end of the guidebushing, by means of a compression spring I'I-6,an'd to the right h y-means of pressure fluid which is admitted to the cylinder throughpassage 90. Movement in the latter direction is 1imited by meansof astopsleeve- I 18 that closes the other end of the cylinder. AportI-Bll-conmeets the left-hand end of thetimingcylinder to the sump,through 'line 182 and a needle= valve -I8 l,-see Fig. 4.

The stop screw MB is adjusted so that movement of the handle Thislimited to anamount which will bring the pin34 to the position shown inFig. '7. This will start'the motor M, atcasloW speed, and, when theturret starts to' movepthe handle will be released by the operator,""I-he roller 32 will now be onthe inclinedcarnportion I36 and pin .34cannot return to the right --but instead will continue to move to theleft, Accordingly, :thepin L53 will elevate the :pawl, as the handle isreturnedtos the positionlof Fig. 3, by the spring L5H, and-spring I63will-swing the surface 38 of the latch I65 beneath the surface I69onthe'pawlr In this position thepawl hook I56 is above thepini55sothatsarm. ill andzpin 34 are bothiree to move, under the actionof spring 18.:and1the roller,'.t0 "follow :the cam "T. Whenitherollerreacheszthesdwelll88upin M will be in the position shown :in Fig.:.8, .andpiston portion' lfi twill-have moved to .theileit andzuncoveredpassage soithatnpressure :fluid from connection .14 will: enter thispassage, and also cylinder 292, and the; timing spistorrl- Imt will bemoved to the rightandagainstthestop sleeve' H 8. Asthe indexing actionflproceeds, roller 32 soon will reach thev dwell .911, and: pin 34 :willbe shif-ted tothe position'shown inliig. Aland in .which posltionthepiston portion 46 willtagain cover the pass-age =95. Spring I15 snowmoves-the :piston I119 slowly .to the leftuas thefiuid in cylinder 92 ispermitted 'to exhaust through the passager I88, line-.IfiLandneedIevalVeuIB i to the sump. -'As the piston l'lfl returns toitsoriginal position, its red I14 will strike the lower end of the latchIBBand will swing .it in aclockivise direction, thus releasingathepawlI:4.U.for return, by spring I63, into engagement with the pin:;1I58...Until this happens, the operation ofthehand-le .H will not star-tanotherindexingcycle since, thehook I56 clears the pin I58 so long .aslatchlfifi zis beneath the surface I69 onthepawl. -By adjustingtheneedle valve 184 the speed of thereturn movement of the piston can beso regulated..that the latch I66 will not be tripped.untilafterrtheindexingicycle has. been completedand, in :this way, the vminimum timeinterval, between each succeeding indexing cycle can be variablypredetermined.

vThisjfunction isespecially desirable when the mechanismis utilized forindexing the turretof a machine for applying pressure to shoeparts.The-turrets of such machines are providedwith a plurality of sets ofpressure-applying devices which, as theturret isindexed successively-tobring each of; the sets of;pressure-.applying-devices :to :a, loadingand :unloading-rstation, holds the parts under pressure. In'such amachine the parts are held under pressure for the length of time ittakes to index the turret a complete revolution. Accordingly, with theneedle valve I84 so adjusted that the minimum time interval betweenindexing cycles multiplied by the number of indexing cycles per turretrevolution is equal to, or slightly greater than, the minimum time it isdesired to maintain. the parts under pressure,,it is impossible for anoperator to index the machine too rapidly, and the holding of the partsunder pressure for at least the minimum desired time is assured.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent or" the United States is 2 1. An indexing mechanismcomprising a member to be indexed, variable speed means having an outputelement operatively connected to the member and an input element,power-operated means for driving said input element, and control meansfor said power-operated means including a member movable manually tostart said power-operated means in operation and, thereafter, movableautomatically to control the speed of operation of said power-operatedmeans.

2. An indexing mechanism comprising a member to be indexed, variablespeed means having an output element operatively connected to the memberand an input element, a motor for driving said input element, acontrolmember movable to a plurality of positions for starting, stopping anddetermining the speed of operation of saidmotor, and means driven by themember to be indexed for moving the control member.

3. An indexing mechanism comprising a member to be indexed, variablespeed means having an output element for driving said member and aninput element, a fiuid-pressure-operated motor for driving said inputelement, a valve member movable to a plurality of positions forstarting, stopping and determining the speed of operation of said motor,and cam means driven by the member to be indexed for moving the valvemember.

4. An indexing mechanism comprising a member to be indexed, variablespeed gearing includ# ing an output element for driving said member andan input element, said gearing being so cone structed and arranged thatsaid member is started, accelerated to a maximum speed, decelerated andstopped, by said output element, power-operated means for driving theinput element, means for controlling the speed of operation of saidpower-operated means, and means associated with said member foroperating the controlling means.

5. An indexing mechanism comprising a member to be indexed, variablespeed gearing including an output element for drivin said member and aninput element, said gearing being so constructed and arranged that saidmember is started, accelerated to a maximum speed, decelerated'andstopped, by said output element, and

power-operated means for driving the input element at a rate of speedvariable in accordance with variations in the rate of speed imparted tosaid member by the output element,

6. An indexing mechanism comprising a member to be indexed, variablespeed gearing including an output element for driving said member and aninput element, said gearing bein so constructed and arranged that saidmember is started, accelerated to a maximum speed, decelerated andstopped, by the output element, a

motor for driving the input element, a control member movable to aplurality of positions for starting, stopping and determining the speedof operation of said motor, and means driven by the member to beindeXedfor moving the control member. 7 7. An indexing mechanism comprising amember to be indexed, variable speed gearing including an output elementfor driving said member and an input element, said gearing being sconstructed and arranged that said member is started, accelerated to amaximum speed, decelerated and stopped, by the output element, a motorfor driving the input element, and means for starting the motor inoperation and for controlling its speed of operation in accordance withthe rate of .speed imparted to said member by the output element.

8. An indexing mechanism comprising a meme ber to be indexed, variablespeed gearing having an output element for driving the member and aninput element, said gearing being so constructed and arranged that saidmember .is started, accelerated to a maximum speed, decelerated andstopped by the output element, a fluid-pressure-operated motor fordriving said input element, a valve member movable to a plurality ofpositions for starting, stopping and determining the speed of operationof said motor, and cam means driven by the member to be indexed formoving the valve member.

9. An indexing mechanism comprising a member to be indexed, a cyclicallyvariable speed gearing having an output element for driving said memberand an input element, said gearing being so constructed and arrangedthat said member is started, accelerated, decelerated and stopped, bythe output element, a motor for driving the input element, means forcontrolling the operation of said motor, and means driven by the memberto be indexed for operating the control means so as to cause the motorto run at a'high speed When the output member is accelerating saidmember and at a slow speed when the output member is decelerating saidmember.

10. An indexing mechanism comprising a member to be indexed, acyclically variable speed gea'r-' ing, having an output element fordriving said member and an input element, said gearing being soconstructed and arranged that said member is started, accelerated,decelerated and stopped by the output element, a fluid-pressure-operatedmotor for driving said input element, a valve member movable to aplurality of positions for starting, stopping and determining thespeedof operation of said motor, and cam means driven by the member tobe indexed for positioning said movable valve member, said cam meansbein adapted to position the valve'member so that the motor runs at ahigh speed when the member is being accelerated and at a slow speed whenthe member is being decelerated: I

11. An indexing mechanism comprising-a meniber to be indexed, variablespeed gearing having an output element for driving the member'and aninput element, a motor for driving-the input element, control means forthe motor, an indexing pin operatively connected to the control means, acam driven by the member, said cam having a plurality of recesses, forreceiving the pin to hold the member in indexed position, and aplurality of intervening control surfaces, for moving the pin to operatethe control means, and means for withdrawing the pin from a recess tostart the motor and thus initiate an indexing cycle. A i 1 12; Anin'dexing mechanism "comprising 'amem ber to-be indexed, variable speedgearing having an output element for driving the member and an inputelement, a fluid pressure-operated motor for driving the input element,valve means forcontrolling th'e' motor including ashiitable valvemember, an indexing pin oper-atively connected to the shiftabl'e-valvemember, 'a cam driven by the member to be indexed, said cam having aplurality of recesses, for receiving the pin to hold the member inindexed position, and a: plurality of intervening control surfaces formoving: the pin and; thereby to shift the valve member, and means forWithdrawing thepin from a recess tostart the motor'and thus initiate anindexingcycle.

13. An indexingmechanism comprising ameniber to=beindexed, variablespeed gearing having an outputelem'ent for driving the member and aninput element, saidgearing being so constructed'and'arranged that themember is started, accelerated, deceleratedand stopped by the outputelement, a motor for driving the input element, oimtrol means for themotor, an indexing pin operatively" connected to the control means, acam driven by the member, said cam having a plurality of recesses forreceivin'gthe pinto hold the member" in indexed position and a pluralityof intervening control surfaces, for moving the pin to operate thecontrol means-so that the motor runs at a high speed when the memberisbeing accelerated and at a slow speed when the member is beingdecelerated, and meansfor withdrawing the pin from" a recess to startthe motor and thus initiate an indexing cycle.

14. An indexingmech'anism comprising a mem-- bar to be indexed, variablespeed gearing having an output element for driving the member and aninput element, said gearing being so constructed and arranged thatthe-me'mberis started, accelerated, decelerated and stopped by: theoutput element, a fluid--pressure-operated motor for driving the inputelement, valve means for cone" t-rolling' the motor including-ashiftabl'e valve membenan indexing pin operativ'ely connectedtotheshiftable-valvemember, a cam driven by themember to be indexed,said cam having a plurality of recesses;for-receiving-thepin to holdthemember in indexed position, and a plurality of intervening controlsurfaces; for. moving the pin to'shift the valve member'so that themotor runs at a high speed when the member is being accel erated and ata slow speed when the member is being decelerated, and means forwithdrawing the pin from a recess to start the motor and thus initiatean indexing cycle.

15. An indexing mechanism comprising a memher to be indexed, variablespeed gearing having an output element for driving the member and aninput element, a motor for driving the input clement, control means forthe motor, an indexing pin operatively connected to the control means, acam driven by the member, said cam having a plurality of recesses, forreceiving the pin to hold the member in indexed position, and aplurality of intervening control surfaces, for moving the pin to operatethe control means, yieldable means for holding the pin against the cam,manual means for withdrawing the pin from a recess to start the motor,and means for disconnecting the pin from said manual means after themotor has started.

16. An indexing mechanism comprising a member to be indexed, variablespeed gearing having an output element for driving the member and aninput element, a fluid-pressure operateci motor for driving the inputelement, valve means for controlling the motor including ashiftableValve member, an indexing pinoperatively connected to the valve member,a cam driven by the member, said cam having a plurality of recesses, forreceiving the pin to hold the member in indexed position, and aplurality of intervening control surfaces, for moving the pin to shiftthe valve member, yieldable means for holding the pin against the cam;manual'means for Withdrawing the pin from a recess to start the motor,and means for disconnecting the pinfrom-said manual me ms after themotor has started.

it. Anindexingmechanismcompiising a memher to be indexed, a motorfor-driving the member, control means for "the-motor including anindexing pin; a camdriven by the member and having a plurality ofrecesses, for receiving the pin to hold themember in indexed position,and a plurality of intervening-controlsuriaceaior moving the pin tooperatethe control means, yieldable means for holding the-pin againstthe cam, manual means for withdrawing the pin from a recess to start themotor, and means for'disconnecting the'pin from the manual means afterthe motor has started.

18. An indexing-mechanism comprisinga memberto be indexed, a motor fordriving the member,

control means for the motor including anindexpin, a cam drivenby themember and having a plurality of recesses, for receiving the pin to holdthe member inindexed position, and a plurality of interveningcontrolsurfaces, for moving the pin to operate the control means;yieldable means for holding the, pin against the cam, av manuallymovable member; means for connectingsaid manually movable member totheindexm ing pin for manually withdrawing the pin from a recess tostart the motor, and meansfor rendering theconnecting means inoperativeafter the motor has started.

19. An indexingmechanism comprisinga memher to be indexed, an indexingmotor, control,

means for the motor including'an indexing-pin, an indexingcam having aplurality of recesses for receiving the pinto hold thexmember in indexedposition, said-control means being constructed arranged to stop themotor when the pin is in a recess and to startthe motor when the pin'-is:

withdrawn from a recess, yieldable means for holding the pin against thecam, a manually movable member, means for connecting the manuallymovable member to the pin for manually with-- drawing the pin from arecess to start the motor. means for rendering the connecting meansinoperative each time the motor is thus started and again operative at apredetermined time after the pin has entered the next succeeding recessand the motor stopped.

20. An indexing mechanism having a member to be indexed, an indexingmotor, control means ior the motor including an indexing pin, anindexing cam having a plurality of recesses, for receiving the pin tohold the member in indexed position and for positioning the controlmeans for stopping the motor, and a plurality of intervening controlsurfaces, yieldable means for holding the pin against the cam, anoperating member movable to withdraw the pin from a recess to start themotor, a releasable connection between the operating member and the pin,means for releasing the releasable connection after the motor hasstarted, and means for restoring the connection of recesses, forreceiving the pin to hold the member in indexed position and to stop themotor, and a plurality of intervening control surfaces, yieldable meansfor holding the pin against the cam, a movable memberfor withdrawing thepin from a recess to start the motor, means for operatively connectingthe movable member to the pin including a connecting member, means forshifting the connecting member to an inoperative position after themotor has started, and means for returningthe connecting member tooperative positiona predetermined time after the motorhas stopped.

22. An indexing mechanism comprising a member to be indexed, an indexingmotor, control means for the motor including an indexingpin and anindexing cam, said cam having a plurality of recesses, for receiving thepin to hold the member in indexed position and to stop the motor, and a,plurality of intervening control surfaces, yieldable means for holdingthe pin against the cam, a movable member for withdrawing the pin froma. recess to start the motor and thereby initiate an indexing cycle,means for operatively connecting the movable member to the pin includinga, connecting member, means for shifting the connecting member to aninoperative position after the motor has been started, latch means forholding said connecting member in the inoperative position, means fortripping the latch a predetermined time after the index pin has enteredthe next succeeding recess, and means for returning the connectingmember to operative position when the latch istripped.

23. An indexing mechanism comprising a member to be indexed, an indexingmotoncontrol means for the motor including an indexing pin and anindexing cam, said cam having a plurality of recesses, for receiving thepin to hold the member in indexed position and to stop the motor, and aplurality of intervening control surfaces, yieldable means for holdingthe pin against the cam, a movable member for withdrawing the pin from arecess to start the motor and thereby initiate an indexing cycle, meansfor operatively 12 connecting the movable member to the pin including aconnecting member, means for shifting the connecting member to aninoperative position after the motor has started, latch means for holdinthe connecting means in said inoperative position, a plunger fortripping the latch, meansfor holding the plunger away from the latchwhile the motor is running, and means for delaying; the return of theplunger for a predeterminedtime after the motor has stopped. 24. Anindexing mechanism-comprising a member to be indexed, an indexing motor,control means for the motor including an index pin and an indexing cam,said cam having a plurality of recesses, for receiving the pin to holdthe member in indexed position and to stop the motor, means forwithdrawing the pin to start the motor including a connecting member,means for moving .the

connecting member to an inoperative position when the motor is started,a latch for holding the connecting member in said inoperative position,a cylinder, a timing piston in said cylinder'and carrying a plunger,yieldable means for moving the piston in a direction to cause theplungerto trip the latch, .valve means associated with the pin andadapted, when the pin is withdrawn from a recess, to admit pressurefluid to the cylinder for moving the piston in the opposite direction,to remove the plunger fromthe vicinity ofthe latch and, when the pinenters the next succeeding recess, to trap the pressurefiuid in thecylinder, and an adjustable exhaust valve for discharge ing saidcylinder so that the yieldable means may return the piston and causesaid plunger to trip the latch.

FRANK E. STRA'I'I'ON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 40 fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bullard, 3d June 27, 1944

